His Trouble Maker

Chapter 126

JESSICA

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My wolf still reacts at Riot being nearby. Although it’s my wolf, I think I’m getting confused by her reactions. Tendencies are, she reacts for him and that makes it worse because that only means whatever Grayson has done is—

No.

No, that’s not it.

My wrists burn raw against the rope again. I pull once, sharp, testing if the sweat from my back slicked the knot enough to shift it, but it only bites deeper. I taste the bark on my tongue. I smell the fucking rot of the meat he’s eating. Rabbit, maybe. Something small and still steaming, bones snapping in his mouth like he’s doing it for show.

My wolf licks her teeth. She doesn’t flinch from the sound. She doesn’t flinch from him.

I do.

And that’s the problem, isn’t it?

She still wants to roll belly–up every time he comes close. She still presses into the scent of him like it’s some kind of anchor. She still wants to believe the monster chewing tendon in front of me is a pack. She doesn’t understand what Grayson did. She doesn’t understand what he gave me.

He doesn’t look at me.

He hasn’t looked at me all morning.

Just sits there at the fire, crunching through tendon like he’s camping, like I’m not tied to a fucking tree with piss–stained moss under my knees and bruises on the inside of my thighs from where he carried me like a corpse.

him with

My stomach clenches and it’s not just hunger. It’s shame. It’s the way I feel every time I smell him. Like I’ve already lost. Like my wolf has already made her fucking choice.

She twitches. Perks. She wants to get closer. Idiot. Monster. I hate her. She hears his chewing and leans into it. She thinks it means safety. She thinks it means mate.

Across the clearing, Riot lifts his head. Doesn’t even look at me. Just says, lazy, like it’s a joke, like he hasn’t shattered my whole fucking life already-

you

opens. Nothing

not hungry. I’m shaking. I’m not crying. I think I’m dehydrated. I think I’m gonna pass out. I think I’d still bite him if he got

your tongue?” he calls again, louder. Still not fucking looking. “What’s the matter, Jess? You

Fuck you.

tongue. It wants out. My wolf

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08:

Wed, 3 Sept

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Chapter 126

He throws the bone.

steaming. Ripped meat still clinging to

Riot stands.

don’t breathe. I know

just woke up from a nap.

hums. Stupid bitch. She likes this.

Rope. Rope. Rope. If I pull hard enough I’ll bleed. If I scream he’ll laugh.

what that does to girls. I’m not

“Fuck you,” I say.

He stops walking.

Silence.

wrong. Riot crouches and tilts his head like he’s sizing me before moves like he’s gonna

my face

in his throat. “Still got

realize something when he’s out there snoring like a mad man. We’re not going anywhere. I blink. Look past him. Past the fire. There are no others. It’s just him and

we waiting

am I waiting for?” he repeats, slow, quiet. His mouth curls at the edges.

“That’s good. You’re starting to think ahead. Starting to wonder if this ends. If we go back to the pack. If I drag you through the village and put you in the square and show them what happens to a bitch

His steps slow when he’s close enough for the heat of the fire to hit my skin through the cold sweat. My arms shake,